Conclusion

Methamphetamine abuse and addiction is a growing crisis that must be addressed by a collaborative response in any community, and this includes a role for community-based recovery groups. Support for re-integration (intra- and interpersonally) can be appropriately provided alongside continued medical and/or psychiatric intervention. Caution must not give way to fear: "many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, need the environment provided by growth and support groups." (n1)

In fact, the absence of support groups is one of the most crucial missing links in the long-term rehabilitation of addicts, including methamphetamine addicts. Consider, for instance, Nakken's analysis of "addictive relationships":

Addictive rituals most often take place alone or within a group whose members have no real caring connection to each other. Most often the group's only connection is their common form of acting out. (n2)

Failure is no surprise when one can watch addicts be sent away to rehabilitation programs, only to return and enter back into the same circles and situations that encouraged their addiction to begin with. Without support, sobriety is short-lived.


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1 Richard Price, Pat Springle, and Joe Kloba. Rapha's Handbook for Group Leaders (Houston: Rapha, 1991), 6.

2 Nakken, 43.